MURRELL ASHWORTH - PACKING A PUNCH
22 September 2009
In size they are David to the Goliaths of the nation’s big-name law firms, but Truro-based Corporate and Commercial experts Murrell Ashworth have not only taken their place in the “Bible” of top UK lawyers, the Legal 500, but have done so just eighteen months after setting up.
Their base is the historic heart of the city next to Truro Cathedral. But this firm is all new - founded as a niche corporate/commercial legal service by Hugh Murrell and Katie Ashworth – both former partners of Follett Stock and both of whom cut their teeth in large London firms before returning to Cornwall.
Hugh Murrell said, “We wanted to bring a fresh approach to the Westcountry’s legal services. We aim to help our clients avoid getting bogged down with unnecessarily complex legal issues by giving clear and practical advice from a commercial perspective.”
“We listen to our clients’ business needs, whether they are a company or an individual, and tailor our advice accordingly.”
Among the clients Murrell Ashworth have helped is the multi award-winning Cornish Sea Salt Co. which hand-harvests salt from the pristine seas off Porthkerris on the Lizard Peninsula for sale across the world.
“Our aim with Cornish Sea Salt was to do something extraordinary, but our needs were varied and complex from a business, legal and environmental point of view,” said Founder, Director Tony Fraser. “Murrell Ashworth took pains to understand exactly what we wanted to do and then helped us to achieve it.”
Murrell Ashworth currently acts for more than 70 companies in Cornwall and beyond. Katie Ashworth has built up a portfolio of national clients specialising in renewable energy, including A7 Energy Ltd, the company behind the Lochead Windfarm – the first in the UK to agree to sell its power directly to Sainsbury’s. Murrell Ashworth expect to have their renewables area of expertise recognised in next year’s Legal 500.
Katie Ashworth said, “We have hand-picked a team of high calibre corporate/commercial solicitors who possess the rare combination of city expertise and local market knowledge. We aim to be approachable and good at ‘seeing the big picture’ – and that’s what our clients really appreciate.”
The Legal 500’s list of top lawyers in the South West has tended to be monopolised by the big cities – Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth - and the larger firms. Truro is now firmly on the list too, with Murrell Ashworth proving that small can indeed be perfectly formed.